Brady Locks Down Ballinger to Hand Bearcats First Loss

BALLINGER, TX — The Brady Bulldogs ended Ballinger's perfect start to the season Friday, and they did it with their defense.

Brady locked down the rival Bearcats with a 20-0 win in the 96th meeting between the two programs that have played nearly every year since their first meeting in 1926.

Johnny Menefield's touchdown catch from Sean Jacoby put Brady on top 7-0 in the first quarter, and that score held until halftime.

Menefield, who had 55 rushing yards, had a TD run with about four minutes left in the third quarter to push the lead to 14-0.

Jacoby then found Mason Airheart for a 35-yard TD pass with about nine minutes remaining to finish off the win.

Airheart had three catches for 73 yards. Ashton Taylor added 18 carries for 79 rushing yards.

Menefield and Johnny Roque each led the defense with 11 tackles and a sack. Nasir Menefield had 10 tackles and a sack, while Demarcus Reed had eight tackles and a forced fumble.

Ballinger's defense had allowed only a combined 16 points in its first three games, and the Bearcats were outstanding against a Brady team that scored 47 points last week against Ozona.

Ballinger's offense, however, ran into its first real trouble this year. The Bearcats had scored 28, 21 and 61 in their previous three games.

Aiden Pena was held to nine carries for 33 yards after opening the year with three straight 100-yard games.

Jaylen Hernandez had six catches for 76 yards.

Both teams now have a 3-1 record. Brady will host Ingram Moore next week, while Ballinger will be at home against Stanton.